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The Next Best Thing Details

2000 DVD Certificate 12.gif
  • Rated:
  • 50
  • from 1394 members

When best friends Abbie (Madonna - EVITA) and Robert (Everett - MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING)--who happens to be gay--engage in an unexpected tryst, they write it off as the result of clouded judgment from too many drinks. However, when Abbie discovers she's pregnant, the two decide to move in together and form a loving, if .. Read more

Starring Madonna, Rupert Everett, Michael Vartan, Illeana Douglas
Director John Schlesinger
Genres Drama

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The Next Best Thing

When best friends Abbie (Madonna - EVITA) and Robert (Everett - MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING)--who happens to be gay--engage in an unexpected tryst, they write it off as the result of clouded judgment from too many drinks. However, when Abbie discovers she's pregnant, the two decide to move in together and form a loving, if unconventional, family. Everett sparkles and Madonna oozes her usual cool in this drama/comedy from the director of MIDNIGHT COWBOY.

Starring Madonna, Rupert Everett, Michael Vartan, Illeana Douglas, Lynn Redgrave, Stacy Edwards, Benjamin Bratt, Josef Sommer, Neil Patrick Harris, Linda Larkin, Malcolm Stumpf, Mark Valley
Director John Schlesinger
Studio HOLLYWOOD PICTURES HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 43 mins
Certificate DVD Certificate 12.gif
Genres Drama
Language English
Hearing-impaired English
Subtitles Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, Norwegian, Swedish
Released DVD: 01 Aug 2005
Production year: 2000
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (5) of The Next Best Thing

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    After the atypical blip that was Evita, Madonna was back in bad-movie mode with this humdrum comedy drama. The material girl plays an LA yoga instructor whose life takes a dramatic turn when she sleeps with her gay best friend (Rupert Everett) and ends up pregnant. The couple set up house together for the good of their son, but problems arise when she falls for hunky Benjamin Bratt and Everett sues for custody. Veteran British director John Schlesinger handles his stars with kid gloves, and both deliver self-conscious performances that feel false and hollow throughout.

    • Radio Times
  • A movie that may appeal to fans of Madonna, but otherwise does little to add to the gaiety of nations, with its awkaward drama that resorts to court scenes in the hope of adding a little excitement to a bland, romantic serio-comedy.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
  • Most helpful member's review of The Next Best Thing

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  • 3 out of 3 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    Well Worth Seeing

    I wasn't expecting this film to be as good as it is. Sure, Madonna is not the world's greatest actor, and in a way, her stardom detracts from any role she is likely to play, but she *looks* absolutely right for this part.

    Rupert Everet is just wonderful as the gay best friend who has a one-night drunken fling and ends up being a father to their child. The film looks beautiful and tackles some very pertinent issues about parenthood and the rights of gay men. I enjoyed every minute of this film, and recommend it as a gay-theme movie, or just mainstream great entertainment.

      • A customer from Salisbury, England
  • Most recent members' review of The Next Best Thing

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  • Rated - 5 stars

    The best thing

    This film was very good,although im a big madge fan,i must admit she cant act very good,but she pulled it off in this film.Madge plays abbie who dispite her looks has no luck wiv men,the only man she trusts is robert,her gay best friend.But things become heated between them,and things change for good.This film is great top marks to the queen herself,5 stars from me

    • jojo920
      • jojo920 from Brighton
  • News and features

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    The Next Best Thing

    Madonna quits film industry

    • 15 Aug 2006

    Movie fans rejoice: Madonna has said that she has quit the film industry. Although she is undoubtedly one of the most talented and inspirational singers of this century, and the last, the same cannot be said of her acting efforts. "I hate to admit it, but I've decided to give [films] up," she said. But she refused to admit that her wooden acting performances could have something to do with her movies' failures, which have included the phenomenal flops The Next Best Thing and Swept... Read more

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Rating breakdown

1,394 Member ratings
  • 100
71
  • 90
54
  • 80
109
  • 70
142
  • 60
251
  • 50
205
  • 40
197
  • 30
145
  • 20
148
  • 10
72

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    • When best friends Abbie (Madonna - EVITA) and Robert (Everett - MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING)--who happens to be gay--engage in an unexpected tryst, they write it off as the result of clouded judgment ...